24/7 news coverage involves way too much talking, which leaves so many opportunities for stupid statements (trust me, I know about volume of words leading to stupid statements).
Two of my favorites thus far:
The first, because I'm pretty sure if Houstonians can't forgive and forget it will seal Rick Perry not being re-elected as governor:
Rick Perry, on the gasoline outages in the Houston area: "We told people at the beginning of the week to top off their tanks. I guess they just didn't take that seriously."
Um, Rick, what sort of vehicles are in the gubernatorial motorcade that can idle for 10-12 hours and don't need gasoline? We gotta get some of those.
Then tonight (Friday) before the Hurricane had actually made landfall, Lou Dobbs on CNN talking to some preciously perky raincoat-clad reporter in New Orleans reporting on flooding in New Orleans that was already 3-4 feet deep. As he's talking, there is an inset of the radar image of the hurricane showing that it has just begun it's fury:
"Can much more rain be expected?"
Perky raincoat-clad reporter was much more gracious than I would have been and said something to the effect that, yes, it can be assumed that more rain is on the way. I think my reply would have been: "What are you, a moron? Can you not SEE the hurricane in your monitor? Do you not understand the word 'hurricane'? Get off the air!!!"
Later I will have to report on my friend, Roxanne, and her evacuation that included 12 hours of car time, a 4 year old, a 7 year old, a snake, a rabbit, 2 chickens, a burned clutch, and landed them back at their house. Be safe, Roxanne!
